Jungle Habitat

From 1972 - 1976 a theme park was owned and operated by Warner Bros. in West Milford, New Jersey called Jungle Habitat. Now, Jungle Habitat is a paradise of relics from a bygone era amid a sea of mountain biking and hiking trails. It is technically part of (and patrolled by) Ringwood State Park, however, JORBA maintains the stewardship of the mountain biking trails. While I have page dedicated to Ringwood State Park, I wanted to create a separate gallery for Jungle Habitat because it is a one of a kind place with a one of kind outdoor experience! Jungle Habitat is incredibly fun to explore on foot. Because it is a mountain biking mecca in northern NJ, I highly recommend hikers hit the trails on weekdays, in inclement weather, or early evenings on short outings. As the years go by the forest grows over more and more of the artifacts leftover from the theme park, so visiting after the autumn leaves fall is ideal so that you can see what is hiding behind the growth. Be a polite hiker here: move aside for the mountain bikers as this is one of the few properties that belongs to and is maintained by them, and if you bring your canine companion, make sure they are leashed at all times for the safety of everyone. I completed the trails in Jungle Habitat on August 20, 2020. You can read the complete blog and photo journal here.

The 2022 NY/NJ Trail Conference map #115 promised to have new blazes throughout Jungle Habitat and a newly constructed trail that will connect Jungle Habitat to the new Tapawingo Trail (formerly Hewitt-Butler, blue blaze). Please note that the Jungle Habitat trails are still under construction and will not be complete until 2023. As of June 2021, the blazes line up vaguely with the 2017 publication of map #115. There are many differences and some blazes are so old that you can’t easily find them. Lastly, the current Avenza Maps publication has only the proposed new blazes and is not yet accurate. The best way to explore this park currently is through your favorite hiking GPS app. This way you can explore all the park has to offer without apprehension. Plan extra time in case you find yourself off trail. This park is a maze that is littered with unmarked trails and is easy to get lost and disoriented. I don’t recommend you hike in Jungle Habitat close to sunset if you are not familiar with its trails and terrain.

MORE PHOTOS COMING TO THE GALLERY IN EARLY 2023!!!